Selectivity of wolf predation on red deer in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland

A pattern of wolfCanis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 predation on red deerCervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 was studied in Bieszczady Mountains in 1991–2002. In total 324 remains of red deer > 4 months old, killed by wolves throughout the year, were found. The sex, age and bone marrow fat content of wolf kills were compared with the same characteristics within the free living red deer population. The overall contribution of calves killed by wolves (24%) in October-May was higher than in the population (17%), and decreased from autumn to spring. Adult males were more vulnerable to wolf predation than adult females: stags constituted 62% and hinds 38% of adult red deer killed by wolves, whereas in the population, the percentages were 37 and 63%, respectively. Stags killed by wolves were younger ([`(x)] = 4.1\bar x = 4.1 years old) than hinds ([`(x)] = 8.9\bar x = 8.9 years old). Wolves killed more > 8 years old hinds and < 5 years old stags than available in the population. In wolf kills, the average fat content in femur marrow was higher among hinds (84.9%) than stags (69.3%) and calves (66.1%). Only 8% of hinds had < 70% femur marrow fat content, whereas 40% of calves and 38% of stags had marrow fat values below that level. Marrow fat content showed seasonal variation and was the lowest in March among all sex-age classes. The monthly share of stags in all kills, and hinds in hind-calf part of the sample was negatively correlated with their monthly average bone marrow fat content, and monthly share of calves was positively correlated with monthly average bone marrow fat content of adults. The segregation of social units (hind-calf and stag groups), except during the rutting season, and the low fat reserves of males from midwinter until spring contribute to the high overall incidence of calves and adult males and the relatively low incidence of adult females among wolf kills.     

Brown bear habitat selection in relation to anthropogenic structures in the Bieszczady Mountains,Poland

In Europe, brown bear Ursus arctos habitats frequently overlap with human settlements and infrastructure. We tested whether anthropogenic structures played an important role in habitat selection by brown bears in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland. We analysed 668 signs of brown bear presence recorded during 6 counts along 246 km of transects (total 1,476 km) in spring, summer and autumn of 1993 and 1994. Habitat selection of bears was more related to habitat and altitude than to human factors. Avoidance of roads, settlements and forest clearings influenced habitat selection by brown bears in spring but less in summer and autumn.     

Necrobacillosis in free-living male European bison in Poland

In the Bialowieza Primeval Forest (Poland) a chronic disease of the external genital organs has been observed in free-living male European bison (Bison bonasus) since 1980. Investigations on this disease started in the late 1980s. The most striking findings are necrotic and ulcerative lesions of the prepuce and penis of bison aged from 6 mo to >10 yr. Histologic examination of tissue samples from the prepuce of six bison (9-mo- to 8-yr-old), and from the penis of two bison (3- and 8-yr-old), were characteristic of necrobacillosis. Masses of slender, Gram-negative, rod-like or filamentous bacteria occurred in necrotic tissue. At the periphery of necrotic tissue filamentous bacteria were often arranged in large clusters and strands that advanced towards healthy tissue. Immunolabeling and electron microscopy also suggest that these organisms are Fusobacterium sp.     

Genetic diversity of the European bison herd from the Prioksko-Terrasny nature reserve

Maintaining the existing genetic diversity in populations is one of the most important measures for species conservation. Some components of this diversity in the bison population of the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve, including the level of preservation of the founder genetic diversity or the founder genomic equivalent (fge) of the current bison stock and the indices of similarity (mk) and genome uniqueness (gu), as well as their effects on viability of the animals from 1950-1995 were studied. The data obtained were treated and the diversity parameters were calculated with the use of the SPARKS software package. This was performed in collaboration with the Institute for Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research (Berlin, Germany). The results of the analysis indicated that, in breeding groups of the European bison, the fge, mk, and gu values should be maintained at levels higher than 1.30, lower than 40%, and higher than 10%, respectively. When selecting males for specific groups of females, the male gu should be at least 20%, and mk should be lower than 40%.     

Some blood biochemical parameter values in a herd of American bison (Bison bison L.) from an experimental animal farm in Poland

The blood samples of 17 bison (7 cows, a heifer, a young bull and 8 calves) formed the basis for conducting analyses of blood plasma. The measurements were carried out by using ionoselective electrodes aided by a Hitachi 917 biochemical analyser. An interpretation of the results was possible due to comparison with the results of similar analyses completed in the United States. Many differences in blood chemistry values in bison bred at Kurozweki were found in comparison to bison from the US.     

Serologic survey for bovine pathogens in free-ranging European bison from Poland

From 1980 to 1983, blood was taken from 60 selected European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland. Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, 14 serovars of Leptospira interrogans, Chlamydia spp., Coxiella burnetti; foot and and mouth disease virus, bovine leukemia virus and bovine herpes virus-1. In addition, an attempt was made to isolate bovine herpes virus-1 from the prepuce of selected bulls. Serological tests suggested chlamydial infection in 28 bison, subclinical Q-fever of a 2-yr-old heifer, subclinical bovine leukemia virus infection in a 12-yr-old bull and bovine herpes virus-1 infection in five bulls and three cows. Attempts to isolate bovine herpes virus-1 were not successful. These results suggest the possibility of cross transmission of several of these bovine pathogens between free-ranging bison and domestic cattle in Poland.     

Papillomatosis in a European bison

Five European bison (Bison bonasus) from three European zoos were shipped to the Bukovské Vrchy Hills (Slovakia) in June 2004 and kept together in an acclimatization enclosure. The European bison were released into the wild in December 2004. At that time, papillomas were found at the medial canthus of the left eye of a 12-yr-old female bison. Cutaneous papillomatosis was confirmed histologically. Negative stain transmission electron microscopic examination revealed papillomavirus in the papillomas, and papillomavirus DNA also was detected using the polymerase chain reaction with FAP59 and FAP64 primers. The amplified 413 bp DNA sequence was identical to that of BAPV2 bovine papillomavirus. This paper is the first report of papillomatosis in European bison.     

Virologic investigations of free-living European bison (Bison bonasus) from the Bialowieza Primeval Forest,Poland

We conducted virologic investigations on postmortem specimens from 261 free-living European bison (Bison bonasus) from the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, Poland collected between 1990 and 2000. Fifty-four of 94 males had balanoposthitis; none of the 167 female bison examined had reproductive tract lesions. Peripheral blood, swabs, and various tissues were analyzed for bovine viruses as well as for viral DNA by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. An infectious bovine rhinotracheitis like BoHV-1 strain was isolated from the spleen of a female bison calf and additionally was detected by nested PCR from splenic tissue. None of the bison had significant antibody titers against BoHV-1, bovine herpesvirus 2, BoHV-4, caprine herpesvirus 1, cervid herpesvirus 1, or bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus-1. However, low antibody titers in two animals indicate that this European bison population has been exposed to BVD virus or BVD-like viruses and BoHV-2.     

Genetic variability in the European bison

In the European bison, Bison bonasus (L), 15 proteins coded by 20 loci have been studied. Two of these loci (Es-3 and Ca) are polymorphic and the remaining 18 are monomorphic. The average heterozygosity of bisons in Polish herds is 3.5%. The value does not differ from those found in populations of other large mammals in spite of restoration of the European bison population from a mere 13 individuals.     

Use of space and activity budgets in relation to age and social status in a captive herd of American bison,Bison bison

A stable herd of 11 captive American bison (Bison bison) of known ages and social rank was studied between June 18 and August 6, 1979 at the Jardin zoologique du Québec, Charlesbourg, Quebec. During the 8-week study, the first author collected scan data of predefined behaviors and locations on all individuals of the herd. Space use analysis revealed extensive occupation of (and preference for) the barn and sand mound by higher-ranking animals and calves, and the tendency for lower-ranked individuals to use alternate, lower-quality sites. Overall, the herd spent an average of 40% of the daytime resting, 25% standing, 23% feeding, and 12% walking/running and group exploring. High-ranking individuals spent significantly more time standing and walking, and less time foraging than average. Most low-ranking individuals spent significantly less time lying, and more time feeding than average. Calves spent significantly more time lying than average. The extra feeding time of low-ranking individuals occurred mostly in early morning and mid-day, when the high-ranking individuals were mostly inactive. Our results suggest differential space and time use in relation to age and social status. The effects of resource limitations caused by captivity conditions, as compared with natural conditions, are discussed in regard to the activity and movement coordination of individuals in this particular captive herd. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The annual cycle of shedding Eimeria oocysts by European bison (Bison bonasus) in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, Poland

Between April 2008 and March 2009, we analyzed the pattern of coccidian oocysts present in the feces of the European bison (Bison bonasus L., 1758) and found 4 species (Eimeria bovis , E. canadensis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. zuernii) previously reported from this host and 3 species (Eimeria alabamensis, E. cylindrica, E. pellita) that are new host and locality records. All the species occurred in bison females, and only 4 occurred in males; E. bovis was the most prevalent in both sexes. The overall prevalence of Eimeria spp. invasion reached 34.7% in cows and 13.9% in bulls. The highest prevalence was noted in early spring, with a peak in April, and the lowest in late autumn and winter. The oocyst count per gram of feces (OPG) varied from 50 to 1,350; no symptoms of clinical coccidiosis were observed. We found a significant influence of winter aggregations of bison on shedding of coccidian oocysts. The prevalence and OPG values were higher in bison congregating in large numbers around winter-feeding sites in comparison to other sites. We suggest that the coming together of cows during the growing season impacts the gender-related differences in prevalence and the number of coccidian species involved. This observation probably results from an increased production of oocysts by sub-clinically infected individuals in high-density bison populations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium caprae</Emphasis> transmission to free-living grey wolves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canis lupus</Emphasis>) in the Bieszczady Mountains in Southern Poland

The aim of this study was to assess whether animal tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted between free-living European bison (Bison bonasus caucasicus), wild boars (Sus scrofa), and protected carnivores such as grey wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos), and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Bieszczady Mountains in Southern Poland. Results of animal studies suggest that TB transmission from bison or wild boars to grey wolves is possible. These are the first described cases where Mycobacterium caprae was detected in samples collected from grey wolves.     

MHC-DRB3 variation in a free-living population of the European bison, Bison bonasus

MHC genes play a crucial role in pathogen recognition and are the most polymorphic genes in vertebrates. Loss of variation in these genes in bottlenecked species is thought to put their survival at risk. We examined variation at the MHC II DRB3 locus in the European bison, Bison bonasus, a species that has undergone an extreme bottleneck: the current population originated from only 12 founders. We also tested for the association of DRB3 genes with the incidence of posthitis, a disease affecting the reproductive organs of bulls and posing a new threat to the survival of the species. We found very limited MHC diversity, with only four alleles segregating in a sample of 172 individuals from a free‐ranging Białowieża population. The alleles were highly divergent and revealed the hallmark of positive selection acting on them in the past, that is, a significant excess of nonsynonymous substitutions. This excess was concentrated in putative antigen‐binding sites, suggesting that selection was driven by pathogens. However, we did not observe departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, an indicator of strong ongoing selection. Neither have we found a significant association between DRB3 alleles or genotypes and susceptibility to posthitis. Alleles conferring resistance to males may have been lost during the extreme bottleneck the species had undergone.     

Population ecology and conservation of endangered megafauna: the case of European bison in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland

The European bison Bison bonasus is an example of nearly extinct 'charismatic megafauna'. The Białowieża Primeval Forest in Poland is among the few places where they still live in the wild. The management of this free-living herd has to reconcile to the conservation needs of a species and the economic and environmental objectives of their habitat: protected as well as commercial woodlands of Białowieża. Here we present a detailed account of the population development and analyse variation in vital rates based on monitoring that started in 1952 and continued until 2002. The population was allowed to grow freely until 1970, when removal started with the aim to stabilize population size. We found that recruitment rate, but not mortality, was density dependent, suggesting that the population density was not very high relative to resource levels. Winters with much snow and cold temperature had a strong negative effect on survival. May temperature of the previous year positively affected recruitment rates. Masting (oak seed) also positively affected recruitment rates, which provides a rare account of masting affecting the performance of a large ruminant. Sex ratio of offspring was even and was not strongly affected by density or climate. We use an age-structured matrix model to show how this knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting vital rates may help managerial decisions by providing explicit links between given environmental conditions and the population growth rates.     

Defecation rate in captive European bison, Bison bonasus

Data on the digestive characteristics of European bison, Bison bonasus (L.), are needed for studies of their role as the largest extant herbivore in Europe and a potential keystone species of the temperate forest ecosystem. Very little published data are available, particularly on the defecation rate which affects population estimates from dropping counts and also the individual seed deposition rate. We gathered data from a captive bison group kept at the Show Reserve of the Bia?owie?a National Park. Droppings accumulated in the enclosure over a 72-h period were counted in winter 2010. In addition, the group was observed over approximately 6-h periods three times in winter and 16 times in summer. The count of accumulated droppings over a 72-h period gave eight defecations per day. The summer direct observations recorded 7.5 defecations per day and winter observation 5.4 defecations per day. These estimates are within the range for other bovids of similar size. The difference between summer and winter observation-based estimates may be accounted for by a higher frequency of defecation in early morning and late afternoon, periods not covered in winter observations. Given the published density of seedlings emerging from droppings of the ～470 free-living bison in the nearby forest, eight defecations a day mean that seed deposition by European bison may contribute significantly to realize seed dispersal and plant establishment.     

Serum proteins of the free-ranging European bison

The paper presents the values of total protein (TP) and protein fractions in the serum of 57 European bisons from the Bia?owieza Primeval Forest, 47 of these animals being free-ranging and 10 living in enclosures. It was found that the amount of TP and amount of alpha 1- and gamma-globulin fractions are significantly lower in adult females than males. The amount of TP and gamma-globulin fraction increase significantly with age in all examined Europeans bisons, whereas the amount of alpha 1- and alpha 2-globulin fractions increase only in free-ranging animals.     

Cases of spermiogenesis in young European bison

Development of spermiogenesis and sizes of seminiferous tubules of the testes and epididymal duct were studied in 45 young European bisonBison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) males from an enclosed breeding centre and a free-ranging population in the Białowieża Forest. Of 13 males in age class II (up to two years), four showed the presence of elongated late spermatids: one male aged 15 months from the enclosed breeding centre and three from the free-ranging population (2 males aged 18 months and one about 24 months old). Of 7 males from age class III (up to 3 years), four showed spermiogenesis, of which the youngest, 26 and 32 months old, were from enclosed breeding. Spermiogenesis was observed in males with high body weight in a given age class. In males of age class I (up to one year old), the mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules was 49.8 μm, in class II — 110.7 μm, and in class III — 162 μm, the mean diameter of the epididymal duct being 110.8 μm, 187.2 μm and 273.4 μm, respectively. Measurements of seminiferous tubules and epididymal duct were significantly correlated with age and body weight of males and differed significantly between the three age classes.     

Acidification of small mountain lakes in the High Tatra Mountains,Poland

A hydrochemical investigation was carried out on eight small High Tatra mountain lakes (Poland). When comparing recent data with those from the period 1935–1965, a constant process of acidification of the lakes is found. The average pH of precipitation is 4.8 in the study area, but the lakes are in two stages of acidification: weak (pH 6.0–6.5) and intermediate (pH 5.5–5.8). The differences are due to differences in water sources.